52011PC0442

2011/0191 (NLE)

Proposal for a

COUNCIL DECISION

on the accession of the Union to Regulation No 29 of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe on uniform provisions concerning the approval of vehicles with regard to the protection of the occupants of the cab of a commercial vehicle

(Text with EEA relevance)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Council Decision 97/836/EC of 27 November 1997 with a view to accession by the European Community to the Agreement of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe concerning the adoption of uniform technical prescriptions for wheeled vehicles, equipment and parts which can be fitted to and/or be used on wheeled vehicles and the conditions for reciprocal recognition of approvals granted on the basis of these prescriptions (Revised 1958 Agreement)[1], and in particular Article 3(3) and the second indent of Article 4(2) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament[2],

Whereas:

1. The standardised requirements of Regulation No 29 of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) on the approval of vehicles with regard to the protection of the occupants of the cab of a commercial vehicle[3] are intended to remove technical barriers to the trade in motor vehicles between the Contracting parties to the Revised 1958 Agreement and to ensure a high level of safety and protection for vehicle occupants.

2. At the date of its accession to the Revised 1958 Agreement, the EU acceded to a limited number of UNECE Regulations listed in Annex II to Decision 97/836/EC; UNECE Regulation No 29 was not included in that list.

3. In light of subsequent amendments and of Article 6.4 of Regulation (EC) No 661/2009 on the general safety of motor vehicles[4] which prescribes for the Union to take account of UNECE Regulation No 29, the European Commission considers that UNECE Regulation No 29 should now become part of the EU type-approval system for motor vehicles,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

UNECE Regulation No 29 on uniform provisions concerning the approval of vehicles with regard to the protection of the occupants of the cab of a commercial vehicle is hereby approved.

Article 2

UNECE Regulation No 29 on uniform provisions concerning the approval of vehicles with regard to the protection of the occupants of the cab of a commercial vehicle shall become part of the EU type-approval system for motor vehicles.

Article 3

This Decision shall be notified by the Commission to the Secretary–General of the United Nations.

Done at Brussels,

For the Council

(…)

The President

[1] OJ L 346, 17.12.1997, p.78.

[2] OJ (…) (not yet published).

[3] OJ L 304, 20.11.2010, p. 21.

[4] Regulation (EC) No 661/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009 concerning type-approval requirements for the general safety of motor vehicles, their trailers and systems, components and separate technical units intended therefore, OJ L 200, 31.7.2009, p. 1.